Keep your bones healthy & prevent fractures

Schedule a DEXA scan near you

If you're 50 years or older, you may benefit from an assessment of your bone health through a bone density (DEXA) scan at Advocate Health Care. We help patients detect issues like osteoporosis and avoid future problems like fragility fractures.

Why you should get evaluated:

DEXA is fast, convenient and precise. The process is similar to having an X-ray and takes about 15 minutes.

Early detection of osteoporosis is possible. Through a DEXA scan, you can find out whether you have osteoporosis, a "silent disease" that gradually weakens bones and causes them to become brittle and prone to fractures. Early osteoporosis detection will lead to the care you need to stay healthy.

Preventing fractures is vital as you age. A DEXA scan can let you know whether you're at risk for fractures, which can be dangerous to your health. For example, approximately 20 percent more women who've suffered hip fractures die within one year of the fracture than those of a similar age who haven't.

Call 800-3-ADVOCATE to schedule an appointment and get a DEXA scan at one of our locations near you.

What is a fragility fracture?

A fragility fracture is any fall from a standing height or less that results in a fracture. Healthy, strong bones should rarely break without a major trauma. A person should be able to sustain a fall from this height without a fracture unless there's an underlying cause that makes the bones fragile.

Common fractures: The most common areas involved in fragility fractures include the hip, spine and wrist. If you experience a fracture related to weakened bone health, it could be connected to osteoporosis. This kind of fracture can indicate the likelihood for future fractures and potential loss of independence.

According to the U.S. Surgeon General:

6X: If you've had one fracture, you're two to six times more likely to have another.

50%: Up to half of all women and a quarter of all men will suffer from at least one fragility fracture in their lifetime.

Managing bone health

You’re never too young to start managing you bone health to prevent future issues, so you should make bone health testing a part of your yearly wellness examination.

Prevent bone loss: While common, fragility fractures increase around age 55 to 60 and rapidly increase in the decades after. There are things you can do to prevent or lessen bone loss:

• Have your bone density tested using a DEXA scan
• Take enough calcium
• Get enough Vitamin D
• Perform weight-bearing and resistance exercise
• Prevent falls by fall-proofing your surroundings and taking precautions
• Stop smoking
• Limit alcohol intake, both for bone health and to reduce your risk of falling